640 
INAUGURAL address. 
opinion, it' he attempts to decide by analyses carried out by 
himself in cases of poisoning, as they require the profoundest 
chemical knowledge and the most careful manipulation. He 
would not wish, through his blunders, that the guilty should 
escape, or the innocent have their liberty interfered with. 
Gentlemen, it is fortunate for you that your teacher in this 
department of your studies is so proficient in medical juris¬ 
prudence, and so competent to give you advice as to how 
you should proceed in such important matters. 
At the onset of my address I alluded to the shoeing of 
horses, and stated that information on that subject would be 
given. Of course I alluded to the principles only that should 
guide you in determining whether such work is done well or 
not, or, what is more especially within our province as vete¬ 
rinary surgeons, whether the shoes that we inspect are made 
and put on in a way calculated to lame the horse or not. 
As veterinary surgeons, we have nothing particular to do 
with the material used or the expense attending the business 
generally. All this legitimately belongs to those who make 
the shoeing of horses their special business. If the veterinary 
surgeon chooses to combine it with his practice (which he 
may do), then he becomes responsible for the way in which 
it is done, and under such circumstances will find it im¬ 
portant that he should, at any rate, be acquainted with the 
theoretical and commercial part of the business, for the pur¬ 
pose of conducting it profitably, and also to be able to dis¬ 
tinguish between a good workman and a bad one. No doubt 
there are certain principles in shoeing which the anatomist 
and physiologist is alone able to point out; but because 
this is the case, I see no reason why he should follow 7 the 
calling. The anatomist and physiologist can also point out 
to those who make shoes for the human being, or to the stay- 
maker, how 7 it is that so many are crippled by shoes ill 
adapted to their feet, or that by stays being too small so 
much injury is done to the health of many females; but all 
this would not convince medical men that they ought to com¬ 
bine the businesses of staymaker and shoemaker with the 
practice of their profession, nor could you convince tliemthat 
its dignity would be in any way enhanced by such a combi¬ 
nation. However, we know that there are many members of 
our profession, of the highest respectability, and w T hose pro¬ 
fessional reputation cannot be doubted, who have thought 
proper to have forges. Not (and I have heard many of them 
say this) because they are profitable, but because a practice 
could not be supported or held together without one. Now, 
I think it a very sad thing that the profession should need 
